Rockstar reveals Grand Theft Auto Online

Rockstar has released a gameplay trailer showing off Grand Theft Auto Online, a free game mode packed in every copy of Grand Theft Auto V -- though calling it a “mode” is hardly accurate.

This is a dynamic, persistent online world playable by up to 16 players, featuring its own missions, characters, storyline, and progression system. You’ll run heists, partake in mini-games and side missions, buy new digs, store cars in a garage, tweak your looks and much more, all while interacting cooperatively or competitively with other real players. Considering that the single-player portion of GTA V is itself bigger than GTA: San Andreas, GTA 4 and Red Dead Redemption combined, this is just an obscene amount of gaming in one package. Check it out:

Except it doesn't initially come in one package. GTA Online doesn’t arrive until October 1 -- a full two weeks after the game's September 17 launch. In an interview with CVG, Rockstar North president Leslie Benzies explained that it won’t be a big download, just a small code that enables the multiplayer portion of the game. That might be the only small thing about GTA V.